Suggestions/tutorial to build clock-like lazy susan?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ebsseattle
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Build
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around building a turntable using a lazy susan that allows for precise incremental rotation, aimed at taking photographs of an object placed on top. Participants explore various methods and materials to achieve this without extensive manual labor in dividing the circle into many parts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using a large gear with the correct number of teeth attached to the lazy susan, with a single nail as a catch for rotation.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of precision, proposing that drawing radial lines and manually adjusting the base could suffice for less critical applications.
  • A suggestion is made to use a stepper motor and DIY electronics for easier control of the rotation.
  • Alternative methods mentioned include using standard dividing engine techniques such as worm and wheel systems, or adding an index scale to the turntable.
  • One participant notes that a worm gear could effectively subdivide the increments of a larger gear.
  • Another participant clarifies that automation is not required and that mechanical precision is not a priority, emphasizing the need for roughly even increments instead.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the necessity of precision and automation, with some advocating for simpler, manual methods while others suggest more complex mechanical solutions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to achieve the desired functionality.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about the required precision and the feasibility of different methods, as well as the potential need for further clarification on the materials and tools available to participants.

ebsseattle
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
I'd like to build a simple turntable using a lazy susan and a bunch of spokes (anywhere from 245-360) so that I can rotate the lazy susan one notch at a time and take a photo of an object sitting on tip of it. The goal is to hold a camera steady on a tripod and rotate the object.

Can anyone suggest materials to use to set this up without manually having to go in and split a circle in 250 parts and hand-drive 250 nails into the wheel?
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Get a large gear with the right number of teeth and glue it to the lazy susan, then put just one bendy mail into the base plate as a catch.

Is it necessary that they are accurate within a low tolerance? What if you just drew out 360 radial lines in pencil and manually moved the base? If you were looking to animate it, it's not like a deviation of a 1/2 degree in one frame will be noticeable.
 
Stepper motor and a bit of DIY electronics is easiest way .

Otherwise :

(a) Use standard dividing engine methods - worm and wheel with index plate .

(b) Put an index scale on rim of turntable . Two methods:

Use a length of tape measure to make a loop and adjust diameter of turntable so that loop just fits over .
or
Print out a scale with suitable divisions on your printer (probably in sections) and fit as for tape measure loop . Alternatively fit as segments on the flat .
 
Yeah. Worm gear would work well. It can subdivide the increments of the larger gear into a fraction of a tooth.

Unless you say so, I don't think it needs to be automated.
 
Thanks for the suggestion. No, it doesn't need to be automated, and DaveC426913, it doesn't have to be mechanically precise. I just wanted something that has roughly even increments.